BofA Analyst Raises Price Target for Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) Amid Strong Outlook

• A BofA analyst has increased the price target for Morgan Stanley, projecting a potential upside of 13.08%.
• The company anticipates robust second-quarter earnings, with forecasted EPS of $2.81 per share and revenue of $19.34 billion.
• Morgan Stanley demonstrated strong first-quarter performance, achieving a Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE) of 27.1% and announcing a $20 billion share buyback program.

On July 7, 2026, a BofA analyst raised the price target for Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) to $250 from $225. Morgan Stanley is a global financial services company active in investment banking, wealth management, and securities. The new price target, set when Morgan Stanley was at $221.09, suggests a potential upside of about 13.08% for the stock.

This positive outlook comes as the company prepares to release its second-quarter earnings report. As highlighted by Benzinga, analysts forecast quarterly earnings of $2.81 per share, an increase from the $2.13 per share reported in the same period last year. Revenue is also expected to grow to $19.34 billion from $16.79 billion a year ago.

The high expectations follow a very strong first-quarter performance. As noted by Seeking Alpha, both the Wealth Management and Institutional Securities divisions delivered pre-tax margins over 30%. The company's Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE), a key measure of profitability, was 27.1%, which is well above management's target of 20%.

To further increase shareholder value, Morgan Stanley announced a $20 billion share buyback program. This action is supported by a strong capital position, shown by a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 15.1%. The CET1 ratio is a crucial metric that measures a bank's ability to withstand financial distress, indicating a healthy balance sheet.